Thorn and splinter pullers

ABSTRACT

A means is provided for cooling a cold-congealable fluid in simultaneous contact with a probe and a foreign body imbedded in the skin thereby forming a substantial bridge between probe and object so that a pulling force can be exerted on the object to effect its removal.

[11] 3,826,264 [451 July 30, 1974 United States Patent [191 Gunther l28/303.l l28/303.l 128/303 1 THORN AND SPLINTER PULLERS ,524.446 2 R d 3,548,829 /l970 eynol [76] Inventor: Roland E. Gunther, lOO Joanne St.,

Princeton Junction, NJ. 08550 4/1971 Jan. 30, 1973 Appl. No.: 327,930

[22] Filed:

Primary ExaminerChanning L. Pace ABSTRACT A means is provided for cooling a cold-congealable fluid in simultaneous contact with a probe and a foreign body imbedded in the skin thereby forming a substantial bridge between probe and object so that a 163 3B 07/ 312 6 on 6 3 0 ""3 .Y 00 m I .c "Hr "n3 e S L f C Umn .111 218 555 [.ll.

pulling force can be exerted on the object to effect its removal.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,451,395 6/1969 Thyber 128/303.1. 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures THORN AND SPLINTER PULLERS When someonw gets a splinter or a thorn into the skin, the removal of the object is complicated by the sensitivity of the nerves in the area. An when little of the object is left protruding to permit some of it to be gripped by tweezers, the process becomes even more disagreeable for the necessity of damaging more skin and nerves in an effort to expose enough of the object to enable the tweezers to get a grip.

This invention provides a means of splinter or thorn removal from the skin wherein very little of the object needs to be exposed for its removal. This invention also obviates the need to be fussy and precise in the operation usually attending such removal by means of twezers.

The construction and the mode of operation of the invention are set forth in the following specification, to be taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which FIG. I shows a side view of a suggested embodiment of the invention and FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the principal functional parts of this embodiment.

Taken in more detail, in FIG. 1 are shown a tubular body 1 that serves also as a grip for the use of the device, a hollow tube 2 leading into the interior of body 1 and a probe-holder 3 affixed to body 1. A probe 4 is shown protruding from probe-holder 3 andsurrounding probe 4 is a drop of fluid 5 of a substance having the property of congealing when cooled below room temperature. Also shown are the outside portions of a number of spacers 7,8,9,l0,11,12 affixed to body 1. Fitted over that part of tube 2 extending away from body 1 is a flexible tubing 13 providing communication between tube 2 and an actuator valve 14 of a refrigerant reservoir' 15.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through body 1 and hollow tube 2, which can in this view be seen to extend well into body 1. Also shown in section is probe holder 3 affixed to body 1 and in proximity to hollow tube 2.

' Of the spacers shown in FIG. 1 the four marked 7,8,9,10 are seen in FIG. 2 in sectional view to be maintaining hollow tube 2 at a distance from the interior of body 1 and creating a space between tube and body indicated at its-upper end by the number 16. It is to be understood that spacers 7,8,9 and vl of this figure and 11 and 12 of FIG. 1 act frictionally to maintain the relationship shown between body 1 and tube 2. Also shown again in FIG. 2, this time in section is probe 4 affixed to and protruding from probe holder 3, and also shown again is a drop of congealable fluid surrounding probe 4.

In further elucidation of particular features of the invention it is pointed out that both probe holder 3 and probe 4 are made of heat-conductive material, desirably of such metal as gold, silver, aluminum or copper, the latter being preferably plated -with gold.

the cold-congealable fluid 5 can be any fluid that is essentially non-irritating to skin or open wounds, and which possesses mobility at room temperature while taking a noticeable set at temperatures that are lower, particularly in vicinity of the freezing point of water. The fluid 5 desirably has some viscosity at usual room temperatures, partly to more easily maintain it in place on the probe 4 and also to assure its taking on a state of congealment with relative ease in order for it to perform its desired function. Appropriate fluids of many types are available and are to be considered to be within the scope of this invention, among them being mixed aqueous solutions of dextrins and sugars, preferably concentrations of about 60 to percent solids. Latexes of many types fulfill the requirements, and while in most cases the media are hydrophilic almost any glue or adhesive in common use will function, and

this includes systems based on solvents other than water. Non-crystallizing fluids are most desirable, but crystallizing ones will work; even water with its notoriously poor tensile strength can be used if care is taken, but it is not preferred.

The refrigerant of reservoir 15 is desirably of the Freon type, and so chosen that its boiling point atatmospheric pressure lies near 32 Fahrenheit. Refrigerants of higher boiling point are less efficient, and those of lower boiling point introduce the possibility of causing frost-bite, wich even with the small areas involved is undesirable. Of the ones commercially available the compound known as Propellent 318 is especially suitable since it has a boiling point of 28.4 F. at atmospheric pressure, and the slightly higher pressure within the device will cause the boiling point to also be slightly higher, thereby bringing it very close to 32 F.

In using the device for removing a splinter or thorn the probe 4 with its adhering drop of fluid '5 at room temperature, is brought to the location from the which the object is to be removed and manipulated in such a way as to bring-the fluid 5 into intimate contact with the exposed portions of the object. With the fluid 5 is simultaneous contact with the probe .4 and the foreign object, actuator 14 is operated for a brief time whereby refrigerant from reservoir 15 is caused to flow via tube 2 into the interior of body 1 in the vicinity of probe holder 3, thence upward to the outside via space 16 between tube 2 and body 1. The emergence of the refrigerant from the confines of tube 2 permits expansion of the refrigerant with an attendant cooling effect. The cooling effect is transmitted via the probe holder 3 and the probe 4 to the fluid 5 thus causing it to set up around the probe and in contact with the object to 'be removed. As soon as this effect is observed, the probe is moved away from the damaged skin area, taking with it in theimbedded object. It goesamostwithout saying that a careful scrutiny of the angle at which the object entered the skin must have preceded afforts to remove it in order to most easily draw it out in the described fashion in a direction directly opposite to that by which it entered.

It may be added that any misjudgement that results in anything less than complete initial success at removing the object need be no cause for concern, since the operation can be repeated most easily without discomfort, and indeed with increased assurance of success for being better able to obtain increased surface contact with the object for its likelihood of having undergone at least a slight outward displacement from its original position.

I claim,

1. A device for removing splinters and thorns comprising a heat-conductive probe, at cold-congealable fluid adhered to said probe, and a cooling means,capable of applying freezing temperature to said fluid, said cooling means being applicable to said fluid via said heat-conductive probe.

2. A device for removing splinters and thorns comprising a heat-conductive probe, a cold-congealable fluid adhered to said probe, a refrigerant reservoir,a

refrigerant, said refrigerant being contained in said restion means operable between said valving means and ervoir, a valving means, said valving means applying to said heat-conductive probe to apply freezing temperasaid refrigerant reservoir, and an essentially tubular reture to said fluid via said probe. frigerant conduction means, said refrigerant conduc- 

1. A device for removing splinters and thorns comprising a heatconductive probe, a cold-congealable fluid adhered to said probe, and a cooling means,capable of applying freezing temperature to said fluid, said cooling means being applicable to said fluid via said heat-conductive probe.
 2. A device for removing splinters and thorns comprising a heat-conductive probe, a cold-congealable fluid adhered to said probe, a refrigerant reservoir, a refrigerant, said refrigerant being contained in said reservoir, a valving means, said valving means applying to said refrigerant reservoir, and an essentially tubular refrigerant conduction means, said refrigerant conduction means operable between said valving means and said heat-conductive probe to apply freezing temperature to said fluid via said probe. 